Waitomo Caves School

Waitomo Caves School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 24 months of the Education Review Office and Waitomo Caves School working in Te Ara Huarau, an improvement evaluation approach used in most English Medium State and State Integrated Schools. For more information about Te Ara Huarau see ERO’s website www.ero.govt.nz

Context

Waitomo Caves School is a small rural school catering for students in Years 1 to 8. It is situated in the Waitomo area.

Waitomo Caves School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are to:

  • reconnect a values focused culture and bring these values alive to enable progress and success
  • build and enhance student learning.

You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Waitomo Caves School’s website.

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how well school initiatives promote student wellbeing and learning to accelerate learning outcomes for those students achieving below expected levels. 

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is to: 

  • respond to levels of achievement in the school
  • build capability to systematically identify at-risk learners and implement responsive programmes.

The school expects to see:

  • a range of data used to identify, track and monitor levels of student achievement 
  • teaching programmes that address individual learning needs and promote equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners
  • the development and embedding of a localised curriculum
  • a continued focus to meet the needs of students.

Strengths 

The school can draw from the following strengths to support the school in its goal to promote student wellbeing and learning outcomes.

  • Staff and trustees are aware of the need to progress student outcomes and build collective capability across the school.
  • There is a plan that identifies actions and goals to raise student achievement.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise: 

  • building collective capacity to accelerate student progress and achievement
  • developing a meaningful and engaging local curriculum.

ERO has concerns about

  • levels of achievement in the school.

Recommendation 

ERO recommends that the board access support to address levels of achievement in the school.

ERO’s role will be to support the school in its evaluation for improvement cycle to improve outcomes for all learners. ERO will support the school in reporting their progress to the community. The next public report on ERO’s website will be a Te Ara Huarau | School Evaluation Report and is due within three years. 

Shelley Booysen
Director of Schools 

7 March 2024

About the School

The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement.  educationcounts.govt.nz/home

Waitomo Caves School

Board Assurance with Regulatory and Legislative Requirements Report 2021 to 2024

As of September 2021, the Waitomo Caves School Board of Trustees has attested to the following regulatory and legislative requirements:

Board Administration

Yes

Curriculum

Yes

Management of Health, Safety and Welfare

Yes

Personnel Management

Yes

Finance

Yes

Assets

Yes

Actions for Compliance 

ERO and the board have identified the following areas of non-compliance during the board assurance process:

  • Compliance with the requirements of the Educational and Training Act in relation to child protection.

The board has since taken steps to address the areas of non-compliance identified.

Further Information

For further information please contact Waitomo Caves School Board of Trustees.

The next Board of Trustees assurance that it is meeting regulatory and legislative requirements will be reported, along with the Te Ara Huarau | School Evaluation Report, within three years.

Information on ERO’s role and process in this review can be found on the Education Review Office website.

Shelley Booysen
Director of Schools

7 March 2024

About the School 

The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement. educationcounts.govt.nz/home

 

Waitomo Caves School - 24/01/2018

Findings

The 2015 ERO report identified a need to strengthen aspects of school operation and curriculum implementation, which have since been systematically addressed through advice from external consultants. This review notes the positive progress the school has made in relation to these matters along with areas of further progress to support ongoing improvement. 

ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.

1 Background and Context

What is the background and context for this school’s review?

Waitomo Caves School is located near the Waitomo Caves. Students attending the school come mainly from the surrounding rural district. Many local families have intergenerational associations with the school. Of the 65 children on the roll, 38 identify as Māori.

Since the 2015 ERO review leadership has remained the same and there have been some changes to the teaching team and board of trustees.

The 2015 ERO review found that the school’s family-like atmosphere was reflected in the way students spontaneously supported each other in the classroom and playground. Students appreciated a range of sporting opportunities, cultural activities, and educational experiences outside the classroom. The report also identified a need to strengthen aspects of governance, leadership, assessment and teaching practice. This review evaluates progress in relation to these matters along with areas of further progress to support the school’s ongoing improvement.

A significant recent development since the 2015 ERO review has been the construction of a new multi-purpose building, which facilitates the school’s implementation of modern learning practices.

2 Review and Development

How effectively is the school addressing its priorities for review and development?

Priorities identified for review and development
  • Curriculum and assessment
  • Teaching practice
  • Student agency
  • Leadership
  • Governance.
Progress
Curriculum and assessment

The principal and teachers have made good use of external professional development to implement robust systems and processes that ensure a consistent school-wide approach to assessment. The school’s assessment schedule has been reviewed and revised and now includes a useful range of nationally referenced assessment tools in both literacy and mathematics. There are sound systems for tracking and monitoring student progress through the year. Teachers use achievement information well to deepen their understanding of students’ needs, discuss learning progress with students and evaluate teaching programmes. Anniversary reporting is now well understood, scheduled and completed by the junior teacher. Teaching programmes respond more consistently to the learning needs of children.

Moderation of teachers’ judgements about individual children’s achievement has been strengthened with support from an external adviser. Teachers now engage in both internal and external discussions about their assessment decisions, and this contributes to higher quality overall teacher judgements.

School-wide curriculum expectations continue to be reviewed so that they more accurately reflect current practice. Continuing review is necessary to ensure that high-quality teaching practices are consistently promoted and sustained and that teaching programmes maintain coverage of all required learning areas over time.

Teaching practice

Teaching practice is now more responsive and is more clearly aligned to identify student needs. Teachers use assessment information consistently to inform their planning and teaching. A collaborative process of teaching as inquiry is being used effectively to improve teacher practice, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics. This has led to better analysis of assessment data, more effective planning, a greater range of deliberate acts of teaching and co-construction of learning goals and success criteria with students. Flexible grouping strategies are being used to enhance learning. There is an emphasis on meaningful learning contexts and integrating literacy with other learning areas. Most students are progressing well in relation to national expectations.

Student agency

There has been a significant increase in students' ability to take responsibility for their own learning. A student-centred approach has increased students’ motivation and ability to reflect on and direct their own learning. Students analyse their progress in mid and end-of-year reports. They have opportunities to develop their own social and relational skills through cooperative processes, and have input into the organisation of classroom programmes.

Leadership

Professional leadership has had a positive impact on student wellbeing, achievement and progress. The principal is developing a collaborative culture whereby teachers work effectively as a team to improve student learning and take responsibility for school programmes and events. She ensures that there is alignment between student learning needs, teachers’ professional learning and staff appraisal. Leaders, teachers and students are involved in the development of a learning environment that supports student wellbeing. Students demonstrate understanding of school-wide expectations and are well engaged in learning.

Governance

Trustees have a clear focus on raising student achievement. They have developed annual targets which focus on specific groups of students who are at risk of not achieving year level expectations. The current principal appraisal process is meaningful and is leading to improved practices. Finance and health and safety processes are well managed. The recently reviewed charter reflects parent and community aspirations for children’s learning and achievement. It effectively guides and promotes the school’s strategic aims and direction.

Key next steps

ERO, trustees along with the principal and teachers agree that key next steps are to:

  • continue the development of the school’s curriculum as outlined in this report
  • develop systems and strategies that enable students, teachers and parents/whānau to use assessment information and learning progressions to develop specific next steps for learning
  • ensure that the principal undertakes professional development in leadership
  • strengthen professional working relationships by ensuring that trustees continue to be involved in relevant training
  • support and maintaining a programme of regular review against the strategic plan.

3 Sustainable performance and self review

How well placed is the school to sustain and continue to improve and review its performance?

Waitomo Caves School demonstrates significant progress in addressing development areas identified in the 2015 ERO report. The school is now well placed to sustain and continue to improve and review its performance.

Key next step

For sustained improvement and future learning success, the school needs to continue to develop its internal evaluation processes and practices. ERO will provide an internal evaluation workshop for trustees and school leaders.

Board assurance on legal requirements

Before the review, the board of trustees and principal of the school completed the ERO Board Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklists. In these documents they attested that they had taken all reasonable steps to meet their legislative obligations related to:

  • board administration
  • curriculum
  • management of health, safety and welfare
  • personnel management
  • financial management
  • asset management.

During the review, ERO checked the following items because they have a potentially high impact on student achievement:

  • emotional safety of students (including prevention of bullying and sexual harassment)
  • physical safety of students
  • teacher registration
  • processes for appointing staff
  • stand-downs, suspensions, expulsions and exclusions
  • attendance.

4 Recommendations

Recommendations, including any to other agencies for ongoing or additional support.

ERO recommends that trustees, the principal and teachers ensure that key next steps identified in this report are incorporated into the school’s 2018 annual plan and forward to ERO for consideration and feedback.

Conclusion

The 2015 ERO report identified a need to strengthen aspects of school operation and curriculum implementation, which have since been systematically addressed through advice from external consultants. This review notes the positive progress the school has made in relation to these matters along with areas of further progress to support ongoing improvement.

ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.

Lynda Pura-Watson
Deputy Chief Review Officer
Te Tai Miringa - Waikato / Bay of Plenty Region

24 January 2018

About the School

LocationWaitomo, Waikato
Ministry of Education profile number2073
School typeFull Primary (Years 1 to 8)
School roll65
Gender compositionBoys 35. Girls 30
Ethnic compositionMāori 
Pākehā
38
27
Review team on siteNovember 2017
Date of this report24 January 2018
Most recent ERO report(s)Education Review
Education Review
Education Review
June 2015
June 2012 
August 2009